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Common uses
Voltarol Tablets relieve pain, reduce swelling and ease inflammation in affecting the joints and muscles including:
- rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, acute gout, ankylosing spondylitis
- backache, sprains and strains, soft tissue sports injuries, frozen shoulder, dislocations and fractures
- conditions affecting the tendons for example, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis.
They are also used to treat pain and inflammation associated with dental and minor surgery.
Before using
Talk to your doctor if
• you think you may be allergic to diclofenac sodium, aspirin, ibuprofen or any other NSAID, or to any of the other ingredients of Voltarol Tablets. (These are listed at the beginning of the leaflet.) Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction include swelling of the face and mouth (angioedema), breathing problems, runny nose, skin rash or any other allergic type reaction
• you have now, or have ever had, a stomach (gastric) or duodenal (peptic) ulcer, or bleeding in the digestive tract (this can include blood in vomit, bleeding when emptying bowels, fresh blood in stools or black, tarry stools)
• you have had stomach or bowel problems after you have taken other NSAIDs
• you have severe heart, kidney or liver failure
• you are more than six months pregnant.
Directions
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
If you switch brands of diclofenac, your dose needs may change. Follow your doctor's instructions about how much medicine to take.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
If you take diclofenac for a long period of time, your doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure this medication is not causing harmful effects. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store diclofenac at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Cautions
• You should take the lowest dose of Voltarol for the shortest possible time, particularly if you are underweight or elderly.
• You should be aware that medicines such as diclofenac may be associated with a small increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke. Any risk is more likely with high doses and prolonged treatment. Do not exceed the recommended dose or duration of treatment.
• Whilst you are taking these medicines your doctor may want to give you a check-up from time to time.
• If you have a history of stomach problems when you are taking NSAIDs, particularly if you are elderly, you must tell your doctor straight away if you notice any unusual symptoms.
• Because it is an anti-inflammatory medicine, Voltarol may reduce the symptoms of infection, for example, headache, and high temperature. If you feel unwell and need to see a doctor, remember to tell him or her that you are taking Voltarol.
• The 50 mg tablets are not suitable for children aged under 12.
Possible side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking diclofenac and seek medical attention or call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
• chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools;
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• swelling or rapid weight gain;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
• fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, purple spots on the skin, and/or seizure (convulsions).
Keep taking diclofenac and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
• upset stomach, mild heartburn or stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;
• bloating, gas;
• dizziness, headache, nervousness;
• skin itching or rash;
• blurred vision; or
• ringing in your ears.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
If you take too much
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a diclofenac overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, black or bloody stools, coughing up blood, shallow breathing.
Additional information
This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use diclofenac. Do not use this medicine just before or after having heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as chest pain, weakness, shortness of breath, slurred speech, or problems with vision or balance.
This medicine can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking diclofenac. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Drug interactions
Before taking diclofenac, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
• diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix).
• steroids (prednisone and others);
• aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others; or
• an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and others.
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use diclofenac or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect diclofenac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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